Chaka Salt Lake is hailed as the "Mirror of the Sky," where the brine lake, existing in both solid and liquid states, creates a natural wonder. The water reflects the sky, the sky meets the earth, and walking amidst the lake feels like wandering through a painting. The overall design of the project draws inspiration from the iconic, spontaneously formed landmarks of the scenic area over the years. The free-form curves shaped by steel and membrane structures resemble a red silk scarf fluttering in the wind over the salt lake. The sightseeing train tracks extend deep into the lake, allowing visitors to rest at the platform or step into the lake to gaze at the seamless blend of water and sky and the rolling mountains.  

The name "Chaka Wind" originates from the conceptual series of the scenic area's enhancement project—Salt, Glow, Wind, and Snow. Among these, the Wind Station is the largest structure, with a total floor area of 3,996.64 square meters. Creating a sense of wind in a massive steel structure (required for ecological protection of the salt lake, hence only steel could be used) standing on the tranquil lake was a challenge. Yet, it also provided a rare opportunity for the design team to blend installation art with architectural techniques. Seeing the wind, hearing the wind, and leaving with memories of the wind—this is the experience we hope visitors will take away from this space.  

The platform is divided into two levels. The lower level is elevated above three tracks, integrating stairs and elevators for visitor flow entering and exiting the station or descending to the lake. The upper level serves primarily as a leisure platform for sightseeing and commercial activities. The roof features a free-form composite structure of steel and membrane, appearing from afar as if dancing in the wind. Upon entering the platform, suspended fabrics in red, orange, and yellow flutter with the breeze, offering an intimate experience of wind. The orientation of the tracks dictates the building's north-south undulating form, making the east-west direction ideal for scenic views. To the east lies the Qilian Mountains, and to the west, the Kunlun Mountains—offering breathtaking natural scenery. The second-level platform fulfills visitors' sightseeing needs while also separating ticketing from the platform to accommodate large crowds efficiently.  

Beyond facilitating visitor flow, we aimed to enhance the sightseeing experience on the platform. Thus, higher and strategically positioned areas break the boundary between the roof and the platform, creating open viewing spaces surrounded by commercial amenities to meet visitor needs. The cantilevered sections of the platform merge with vertical circulation, forming visitor-friendly buffer zones that smooth the flow, allowing guests to appreciate Chaka Salt Lake's natural splendor while moving through the station. The western side of the building offers the best views. To prevent the roof design from obstructing mid-level sightlines, the roof structure opens partially on the second level, extending the platform outward to form a unique viewing deck. The undulating roof and interwoven platforms bleThe overall curved surface is primarily composed of three layers: the main steel structure, two types of membrane structures with different properties on the top surface, and three-colored fabric panels suspended at the bottom that flutter with the wind. Combining spatial, visual, and structural requirements, the design draws inspiration from the imagery of a dancing red scarf and references the ripples formed by raindrops falling into a lake as the conceptual basis for generating the curved form.  

Instead of simply adopting a floating curved roof supported by columns, the main steel structure extends seamlessly down to the platform, enhancing the sense of movement as if swaying with the wind. Although the steel structure features free-form curves, its generation follows a clear logic. First, constrained by railway conditions, three anchor points were selected on the platform and the eastern and western elevated areas as the grounding locations for the curved surface. Based on preliminary structural analysis, four large "blossoming" columns were incorporated for support. Structural simulations identified weak points in the shell, leading to the addition of three smaller blossoming columns to enhance overall stability without compromising the curved form.  

The design of the blossoming columns was inspired by the tension-induced patterns formed when water droplets hit a lake's surface. Through elastic surface modeling, a smooth transition was achieved between the columns and the roof's curved surface.nd seamlessly, creating an organic whole.